The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 3,172 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 449 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,723 via rapid antigen tests. Separately, 111 imported cases were detected. Furthermore, seven residential care homes for the elderly and five for disabled people logged 13 cases involving their residents. The Hospital Authority reported that 20 patients passed away in public hospitals. According to a preliminary analysis, the cause of death for nine patients was related to COVID-19, while that of the remaining 11 patients was unrelated. It also registered eight more critical cases, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 93. Separately, to align with the Government’s cancellation of issuing isolation orders from tomorrow, the authority will, starting from the same day, announce at 8.30am and 1pm the information of general out-patient clinics (GOPC) quota reserved for COVID-19
The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating three additional imported COVID-19 cases involving patients who arrived from Qatar, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.
One case, a 53-year-old man who arrived from the United Arab Emirates, lives at Aigburth, Mid-Levels. He received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in April in Hong Kong.
The patient tested negative in Hong Kong on August 30 and travelled to India on August 31 via Emirates flight EK385.
He returned to Hong Kong on September 13 on flight EK384 and his specimen collected upon arrival at the airport that same day tested negative.
His sample collected on September 15 tested positive for COVID-19 with the L452R mutant strain but not the N501Y or E484K mutant genes. The patient remains asymptomatic.
He works at Unit 1506A, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui and last went to work on August 27.
The buildings where he stayed and worked in Hong Kong during the incubation period will be included in a compulsory testing notice.
The centre is also investigating two overseas COVID-19 cases.
The first case involves a 36-year-old man who lives at 7 Lyttelton Road, Mid-Levels. He received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in March and April in Hong Kong.
He tested negative in Hong Kong on August 19 and travelled to the US on Cathay Pacific flight CX892 on the same day.
The man developed symptoms in the US on August 29 and his specimen collected the same day tested positive.
The patient obtained a COVID-19 negative test result proof on September 7. He returned to Hong Kong on September 11 via flight CX851 and his specimen collected upon arrival at the airport on the same day tested negative for COVID-19.
His sample collected on September 14 tested positive for COVID-19 with the L452R mutant strain but not the N501Y or E484K mutant genes.
The patient works at 18/F, Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central and he last went to work on August 19.
The centre has classified him as a re-positive overseas case. The buildings where he stayed and worked in Hong Kong during the incubation period will be included in a compulsory testing notice.
The second case involves a 16-year-old female who lives at Block 9, Villa Esplanada, 8 Nga Ying Chau Street, Tsing Yi. She received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine in July and August in Hong Kong.
The patient tested negative in Hong Kong on September 4 and travelled to the UK on September 6 on flight CX251.
Her specimen collected in the UK on September 9 tested positive and she remains asymptomatic.
The centre is following up on the case with the UK health authority. The building where she stayed in Hong Kong has been included in a compulsory testing notice.
The centre also reminded specified people linked to Tower 2, Le Prestige, LOHAS Park, Tseung Kwan O and Tung Shun Hing Building, 22 Chi Kiang Street, To Kwa Wan to undergo compulsory testing tomorrow in accordance with the notice.
A total of 41 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, and all of which are imported.
For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.
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